Transport Dept issues notices to mining firms
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Snubbed by Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Transport Department on Tuesday issued notices to the mining firms asking to abide by the High Court directives on overloading of the trucks.
Talking to reporters, Transport Director Arun Desai said that short term measures as directed by the High Court through Writ Petition in 2009 have been served to the mining companies and truck operators.
“If we don’t find any reasonable change within 48 hours, the department will go very strong to implement all the provisions of Central Motor Vehicles Act,” Desai said adding that violations of the regulations will be reported to the High Court as contempt of court.
The court had said that if any truck engaged in the transportation of ore is found violating any of the measures three times in a year, the permit of the truck will be suspended.
As per the regulations for the mineral ore transportation in the State of Goa, the court has ordered, that the trucks loaded at dispatched point shall carry ore only to the extent of permitted capacity that is 10.5 tonnes for six wheelers. “The mining companies have been directed to have their own weighbridges at the point of loading itself and no truck bearing ore would be permitted to the leave the premises unless its weight is measured,” it adds.
The trucks are also been directed to move in a staggered manner with minimum of one minute gap per dispatch. The directions are also been issued restricting overtaking of one ore carrying truck by other truck carrying minerals. The speed limit has been also regulated to 30 kms in inhibited areas while 50 kms at other places.
“There shall be a gap of minimum 100 mts maintained between two trucks plying on road carrying mineral ore,” the measures reads adding that the time limit of the transportation shall be strictly maintained between 8.00am to 6.pm with one hour gap.
The department’s flying squad has booked 500 trucks since January 2011 for overloading. The truck operators are been fined Rs 2,000 for the first extra one tone while Rs 1000 for the rest per tonnes.
Desai has also warned that if need arises the department might also appeal the State Government demanding cancellation of mining lease of the said mines, from where the ore was being loaded.
The director informed that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had called for an emergency meeting over the issue on February 25, which would be attended by the mining companies and the truck operators.
